Nepal Visa Guide: On Arrival, Fees, Extensions & Who Is Exempt

Overview

Nepal runs one of South Asia's most visitor-friendly visa systems. Citizens of almost every country can get a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu and at the main land borders with India and Tibet (China). You simply choose how long you want, pay the fee in cash, and walk through, typically in well under half an hour outside peak arrivals.

The tourist visa is multiple-entry and comes in three lengths, 15, 30 or 90 days. You can apply online in advance to save time at the airport, or do everything on arrival. A handful of nationalities are not eligible for visa on arrival and must apply at a Nepali embassy first (see below), and a few, most notably Indian citizens, need no visa at all.

Always confirm the current rules before you fly. Fees and the eligibility list are set by the Government of Nepal and change periodically. The authoritative sources are the Department of Immigration and the official online application portal at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np.

Tourist Visa Fees

Tourist-visa fees are charged in US dollars (other major currencies and cards are accepted at TIA). All three options are multiple-entry:

Children under 10 are issued a gratis (free) visa. Chinese nationals and citizens of SAARC countries (except some frequent visitors) are generally eligible for a free 30-day visa once a calendar year, check current terms. The visa "year" runs January to December, and a tourist may stay a maximum of 150 days in a single visa year.

Who Is Exempt & Who Must Apply in Advance

No visa needed: Indian citizens do not require a visa to enter Nepal (carry a valid passport or an accepted photo ID).

Not eligible for visa on arrival: citizens of a short list of countries must obtain a visa in advance from a Nepali diplomatic mission before travelling. This list has historically included Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Syria and Zimbabwe, as well as refugees with travel documents. The list can change, so if your country might be affected, confirm with the Department of Immigration or your nearest Nepali embassy well before you book.

Applying Online Before You Fly

You can pre-fill your arrival form online to skip a queue at the airport. On the official portal (nepaliport.immigration.gov.np) you complete the tourist-visa form and upload a passport photo; the system gives you a submission receipt / barcode. Important: the online form must be filled within 15 days before your arrival, do it any earlier and you will have to redo it.

Bring a printout (or the barcode on your phone) to the airport, then pay the fee and collect the visa sticker. Pre-applying does not pre-pay or guarantee the visa, it just speeds up the desk.

Getting Your Visa at Kathmandu Airport

The on-arrival process at TIA is straightforward:

1. Use the kiosks. Self-service machines scan your passport and print an application slip (you can also use your online barcode). If a machine is down, paper forms are available.
2. Pay the fee. Go to the visa-fee counter and pay in US dollars (cash is simplest; cards/other currencies accepted). Keep the receipt.
3. Immigration desk. Hand over your passport, the slip and the fee receipt. The officer issues the visa sticker and stamps you in.

Come prepared: a passport valid for at least six months, a passport-size photo (the kiosks can take one, but a spare avoids hassle), the fee in clean US-dollar notes, and your accommodation/onward details. From the airport it is a short ride into Kathmandu; many travellers head straight on to Pokhara.

Extending Your Visa

Loving Nepal and want to stay longer? Tourist visas are extended at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or the immigration office in Pokhara. Extension costs around US$3 per day, with a minimum extension of 15 days (about US$45). Remember the overall cap, no more than 150 days as a tourist in one visa year (January–December).

You can usually extend online via the same official portal and then visit the office to finalise. Overstaying carries fines, so extend before your visa expires rather than after.

Beyond the Tourist Visa

The tourist visa does not permit paid work. If you plan to volunteer formally, do business, study, or take up employment, you will need the appropriate visa category arranged through the relevant authority or your sponsoring organisation. Trekkers should also budget separately for trekking permits (such as TIMS and conservation-area permits like ACAP), which are different from your entry visa, see our trekking guides for the specifics of each route.